Control apparatus

ABSTRACT

Control apparatus for effecting a plurality of output functions, comprising a drive member that is movable into driving engagement with each of a plurality of driven output members, a movable input member having a cam groove disposed on the outer surface thereof, and a pin mounted on the drive member and slidably engaged in the cam groove. Depending on the configuration of the cam groove, the movement of the input member may cause the pin to move along the cam groove and to effect movement of the drive member into driving engagement with one of the output members, or may cause the pin to move with the input member to thus effect movement of the drive member with the input member.

[451 Oct. 10, 1972 United States Patent Steele I54] CONTROL APPARATUS[72] Inventor:

Michael F. Steele, Costa Mesa, Calif.

m G mm .m FD. ma W y mm mm [57] ABSTRACT Control apparatus for effectinga plurality of output functions, comprising a drive member that ismovable [22] Filed:

[21] Appl. No.: 116,947

into driving engagement with each of a plurality of driven outputmembers a movable input member ha [58] 335 325 ing a cam groove disposedon the outer surface c thereof, and a pin mounted on the drive memberand slidably engaged in the cam groove. Depending on the [56]Referencescned configuration of the cam groove, the movement of theUNITED STATES PATENTS input member may cause the pin to move along thecam groove and to effect movement of the drive member into drivingengagement with one of the outu put members, or may cause the pin tomove with the input member to thus efi'ect movement of the drive memberwith the input member.

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 775,728 5/1957 GreatBritain............74/337.5 961,773 4/1957 Germany........ 74/337 5 16Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTED T i SHEET 1 UF 2 INVENTOR MICHAEL F.STEELE CONTROL APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates to apparatus for controlling the positioning and drivingmovement of a drive member that is sequentially movable into drivingengagement with a plurality of output members for effecting a pluralityof output functions. More particularly, the invention relates to such anapparatus wherein the positioning and driving movement of the drivemember are controlled by a movable input or cam shaft having a camgroove therein.

Heretofore, in apparatus that has been utilized for effecting aplurality of output functions by controlling the movement of a drivemember sequentially into driving engagement with one or more outputmembers, complicated linkage and or multiple driving arrangements havebeen required to control the position and driving movement of the drivemember. In many instances, a plurality of complex linkage arrangementshave been utilized, each one being controlled by separate drive means,such as a plurality of electric motors. These prior art controlassemblies have been subject to numerous disadvantages; namely, theyhave been complicated in construction, expensive to manufacture,relatively heavy and/orbulky, and have been of relatively lowreliability owing to their complicated construction and their need foraplurality of drive means, such as multiple electric motors, which hasincreased the chances of a malfunction.

The previously utilized control assemblies have been particularlyunsuitable in space applications where low weight, minimum complexityand high reliability are required for all systems utilized in spacevehicles. A

particular need has arisen in the space field for a highly reliable,lightweight and simple control assembly to be used, for example, forpositioning a payload at any point in one, two or three dimensionalspace. The preciously and presently utilized control assemblies havefailed to satisfactorily fulfill this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The control apparatus of the present inventionis very simple in construction, lightweight and highly reliable inoperation, and can be utilized for effecting a plurality of outputfunctions, such as the positioning of a payload at any point in one, twoor three dimensional space. Also, the control apparatus of thisinvention is readily adaptable to automated assembly line machinery foreffecting a plurality of sequential output functions. In the presentcontrol apparatus, a sequence of any number of output functions may beobtained through the use of a single bi-function input such as areversible electric motor.

The control apparatus of the present invention comprises an input shaftthat is rotatable in opposite directions by a reversible drive means,such as an electric motor. An axially and circumferentially extendingcam groove of any desired configuration is disposed on the outer surfaceof the input shaft. A drive member is mounted on the input shaft forrotatable and axial movement relative thereto, and a pin mounted on thedrive member is positioned within the cam groove for sliding movementtherein. In addition, a drag device is engaged with the drive membercausing translation owing to input shaft rotation and allowing rotationwhen the pin mounted in the drive member reaches a drive point in thecam groove. Rotation of the input shaft, therefore, results in rotationand/or axial movement of the drive member, owing to the rotation of thepin with the cam shaft or the translating movement of the pin in the,cam groove. v

A plurality of output members are mounted adjacent the drive member fordriving engagementtherewith. By rotating the input shaft in apredetermined manner, the drive member may be moved into sequentialdriving engagement with each of the output members so as to effect aplurality of output functions, depending on the output member with whichthe drive member is drivingly engaged, and the direction of rotation ofthe drive member. In order to increase the number of output functionsthat may be effected by the single rotatable input shaft, a plurality ofcam grooves of the same or different configuration'may be provided onthe exterior surface of the input shaft, and a plurality of drivemembers may be. mounted on the input shaft for cooperation with each ofthe cam grooves. Each of the drive members, therefore, would bedrivingly engageable with different output members for effectingnumerous output functions.

The drive and output members may be in the form of gear members or anyother type of drive transfer members. Alternatively, the drive membermay be a follower member that is movable, owing to rotation of the inputshaft and the friction of the'drag device, into driving engagement withan output member such as a drive transfer wheel of the like which is, inturn, drivingly engageable with other output means. The cam groove orgrooves may be formed in the outer surface of the input shaft or may beformed in the outer surface of one or more annular cam members mountedon the input shaft for rotation therewith.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view, withparts shown in section and parts broken away, of a control apparatusconstructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;I

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away, of the camgroove on the input shaft of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portion of thepresent control apparatus, showing a section of the cam groove on theinput shaft and the drive member or follower pin slidably disposedtherein;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 2 showing a modifiedcam groove on the input shaft;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view, with parts shown in section and partsbroken away, of a modified form of control apparatus constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view, with parts broken away and parts shown insection, of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 5, and

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away, of a portionof the apparatus shown in FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIG. 1, the controlapparatus 10 of the present invention comprises a rotatable input shaft12 that is adapted to be driven by any suitable type of reversible drivemeans such as a reversible electric motor (not shown). Mounted on andsecured to the input shaft 12 is a cam shaft 14 having an axially andcircumferentially extending cam groove 16 formed in the exterior surfacethereof. Within the scope of the present invention, the cam groove 16may be of any desired configuration, and may be formed directly in theexterior surface of the input shaft 12 rather than on the exteriorsurface of a separate cam shaft or member 14.

A drive member of any suitable type, such as an annular gear member 18is rotatably and slidably mounted on the cam shaft 14, or on the inputshaft 12 in the case where the cam groove 16 is formed directly in theexterior surface of the input shaft, such that the drive gear member 18is rotatably and axially movable relative to the cam shaft 14 and theinput shaft 12. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the exterior surface of thegear member 18 is provided with a recess or bore 20 in which a pin 22 isslidably mounted. The inner end of the pin 22 is slidably disposed inthe cam groove 16 and is urged into engagement with the cam groove by aspring 24 of any suitable type disposed within the bore 20 of the gearmember 18.

Any suitable drag device 17 may be utilized to provide friction forcesto cause pin 22 to translate in the cam groove 16 when position changeis commanded by the input shaft 12. For example, a drag device such asthe gear 17 may be spring loaded into continuous engagement with thegear member 18 throughout its entire path of movement so as to supplythe required drag force. Further, when the pin 22 reaches a driveposition 16a in the cam groove 16, the friction force supplied by thedrag gear 17 is overcome allowing rotation of the drive gear 18 withinput shaft 12.

A plurality of output members of any suitable type, such as gear members26, are mounted for independent rotation on a shaft 28 and arepositioned so as to be drivingly engaged by the gear member 18 in amanner to be described hereinafter. Alternatively, the output gearmembers 26 could be mounted on separate shafts, or if face gears wereused on the same input shaft 12 or cam shaft 16. The gear members 26 maybe operatively connected to different drive transfer or gearingarrangements (not shown) depending on the particular output functionsdesired as a result of the rotation of each of the gear members 26. Asan illustrative example, each of the output gear members 26 could effectdifferent types of positioning movements in any suitable type of outputdevice (not shown).

In the operation of the control apparatus 10, it will be readily seenthat rotation of the input shaft 12 and the cam shaft 14 can effectrotation of the drive gear member 18 therewith or axial movement of thegear member 18 along the cam shaft 14, owing to the friction of the dragdevice 17 and the position or movement of the pin 22 in the cam groove16. The sequence of movements of the drive gear member 18 relative tothe cam shaft 14 is determined by the configuration of the cam groove16, and this would ultimately depend on the type and the sequence ofoutput functions to be effected by rotation of the output gear members26. By rotating the input shaft 12 in a predetermined direction, thedrive gear member 18 can be sequentially translated in an axialdirection along the cam shaft 14 such that it is sequentially broughtinto driving engagement with each of the output gear members 26 so as torotatably drive them in a timed sequence that is determined by theconfiguration of the cam groove 16 and the speed and direction ofrotation of the input shaft 12.

As an illustrative example, FIGS. 1 and 2 disclose one type of camgroove 16 that may be utilized with the present apparatus, when it isdesired to sequentially rotate the output gear members 26 in oppositedirections. The cam groove 16 is provided with alternating axially andcircumferentially spaced stop positions 16a which are disposed such thatthe drive gear member 18 will be in driving engagement with one of theoutput gear members 26 when the pin 22 is at one of the stop positions16a. When the pin 22 is at one of the stop positions 16a, and the inputshaft 12 is rotated in one direction, the drive gear member 18 will berotated with the input and cam shafts 12 and 14 owing to the engagementof the pin 22 with the adjacent end portion of the cam groove 16. Thedrive gear member 18 thus will serve to rotatably drive the output gearmember 26 with which it is in meshing engagement. If the input shaft 12is then rotated in the opposite direction, the friction of the dragdevice 17 upon the gear member 18 will cause the pin 22 to move alongthe cam groove 16 toward the next stop position 16a. This will result inthe axial movement of the drive gear member 18 along the cam shaft 14into meshing engagement with the next succeeding output gear member 26as the pin 22 reaches the next stop position 16a. Thereafter, alternaterotation of the input shaft 12 in opposite directions will continue thissequence of operation such that the drive gear member 18 will besequentially moved into operative engagement with each of the outputgear members 26 and will rotatably drive each of the output gear memberssequentially in opposite directions.

In order to prevent the pin 22 from moving backwards in the cam groove16, each of the cam groove portions may be recessed relative to theadjacent cam groove portion, in the manner shown in FIG. 3, such thatwhen the pin 22 reaches a stop position 16a, it drops into the next camgroove portion and can not move backwards when the direction of the cammember 14 is reversed. Within the scope of this invention, there aremany other well-known ways in which the pin 22 could be prevented frommoving backwards in the cam groove 16, other than that specificallyshown in FIG. 3. Some such alternate methods include using a guide atthe end of pin 22 (not shown), or a lead for directing pin motion ineach cam groove 16 (not shown).

Referring now to FIG. 4, a different cam groove configuration isillustrated for use with the control apparatus when it is desired torotate each of the output members in both clockwise and counterclockwisedirections. The modified cam groove 1 16 formed in the cam shaft 14connected to the input shaft 12 is provided with a plurality of pairs ofstop positions 1160, each pair being disposed in a common plane that issubstantially normal to the axis of the input shaft 12. In this manner,rotation of the input shaft 12 can effect movement of the pin 22 alongthe cam groove 116 between the stop positions 116a disposed in the sameplane that is normal to the input shaft axis. Such movement will notresult in axial movement of the drive gear member 18 into engagementwith the next succeeding output gear member 26, but instead willmaintain the drive gear member 18 in engagement with the same outputgear member 26 and will result in the drive member 18 and output gearmember 26 being rotated in a direction opposite to that of the drivemember 18 when the pin 22 was disposed in the previous stop position116a in the sameplane.

Thereafter, if the input shaft 12 is rotatedin the opposite direction,the pin 22 will be moved along the cam groove 116 to the next stopposition 116a which is disposed in a different plane that is normal tothe input shaft axis. This latter movement of the pin 22 will cause thedrive gear member 18 tomove axially, owing to the friction of the dragdevice 17 and the rotation of the input shaft 12, along the exteriorsurface of the cam shaft 14 until itis in driving engagement with thenext output gear member 26, which may then be rotatably driven by thegear member 18 in opposite directions, depending on the direction ofrotation of the input shaft 12 and cam shaft 14.

The configuration of the cam grooves 16 and 116 shown in FIGS. 2 and 4,respectively, are merely examples of types of cam grooves that could beutilized for controlling output functions in accordance with the presentinvention. Within the scope of this invention, any suitable type of camgroove configuration could be utilized, depending on the timing andsequence of the output functions desired.

A modified form of the control apparatus is shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7.The modified apparatus 200 comprises a rotatable input shaft 202 havinga gear 204 keyed thereto for cooperating with a suitable output gearingarrangement (not shown) that is driven by a reversible drive means suchas an electric motor (not shown). A plurality of annular cam members 206are mounted in axially spaced relation on the input shaft 202 and arekeyed thereto at 208 so as to be rotatable with the input shaft. Each ofthe cam members 206 is provided with a cam groove 210 in the outersurface thereof. The cam groove 210 of each annular member 206 may be ofany suitable or desired configuration, and each cam groove may be thesame as or different from the cam groove of one or more of the of theother cam members 206.

A drive or follower member 212 is slidably and rotatably mounted on theexterior surface of each of the annular cam members 206 and is providedwith an inwardly extending pin 214 that is slidably disposed in the camgroove 210 of the adjacent cam member 206. The pin 214 is slidablymounted in a bore in the follower member 212 and is urged toward the camgroove 210 by a spring 215 disposed within the bore, as shown in FIG. 6.A plate member 217 serves to close the bore and is secured to thefollower member 212 by a plurality of screws 219. In addition, incontact with the outer surface or other suitable surface of the followermember 212 is a drag device 213 of any suitable type. The drag device213 supplies sufficient drag friction to the follower member 212 tocause translation rather than rotation of the follower member 212 alongthe annular cam member 206, until the pin 214 reaches the end of the camgroove 210a. Upon reaching the end of cam groove 210a, the drag frictionof the drag device 213 is overcome thus allowing rotation of thefollower member 212. It is seen, therefore, that rotation of the inputshaft 202 and the annular cam members 206 mounted thereon will result inrotation and/or axial movement of the follower members 212 with or alongthe cam members 206, owing to the positioning or movement of the pins214 in the cam grooves 210 and the drag device 213. The direction ofrotation and axial movement of each of the follower members 212 will bedetermined by the configuration of each of the cam grooves 210.

Each of the follower members 212 is provided with a plurality of secondpins 216 extending outwardly from one side thereof, and a plurality ofthird pins 218 extending outwardly from the other side thereof. Each ofthe pins 216, 218 is biased laterally outwardly by a helical spring 220in surrounding relation thereto. A pair of output members in the form ofgear members 222 of any suitable type are rotatably mounted on the inputshaft 202 on opposite sides of each annular cam member 206. Each of thegear members 222 is provided with a plurality of apertures 224 thereinwhich are adapted to slidably receive the pins 216 and 218 of theadjacent follower member 212. Within the scope of the present invention,the gear members 222 may be of any suitable construction and may each bethe same as or different from the other gear members 222.

In the operation of the modified control apparatus 200, when therotation of the input shaft 202, the annular cam members 206 and thedrag device 213 effects the axial movement of one or more of thefollower members 212, the pins 216 or 218 on the follower members 212are moved into the apertures 224 of the adjacent gear member 222 so asto drivingly connect the follower member 212 and adjacent gear memberfor joint rotatable movement with the input shaft 202. Thereafter, apredetermined rotation of the input shaft 202 can effect rotation of thefollower member 212 and the connected gear member 222, owing to theposition of the respective pin 214 in the respective cam groove 210. Theoperation ofthe modifiedcontrol apparatus 200, therefore, is verysimilar to the operation of the control apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1.

With the modified control apparatus 200 shown in FIGS. 5 through 7, anydesired number of cam members 206, follower members 212 and gear members222 may be provided on the input shaft 202, so that a very large numberof output functions can be effected by the sequential rotation of theinput shaft 202 in the same or opposite directions.

I claim 1. In control apparatus wherein a drive member is movable intodriving engagement with each of a plurality of driven output members foreffecting a plurality of output functions, the improvement comprising:

a movable input member having a cam groove disposed on the outer surfacethereof, and

follower means mounted on said drive member and slidably engaged in saidcam groove,

whereby predetermined movement of said input member causes said followermeans to move along said cam groove and to effect movement of said drivemember into driving engagement with one of said output members.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said input member is a rotatableshaft and said follower means is a pin.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said drive member is an annularmember that is mounted on said input shaft for rotation and axialmovement relative thereto, and said pin is mounted on the interiorannular surface of said drive member.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said output members are gearmembers, and said drive member is a gear member that is adapted to meshwith each of said output members. I

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said output members comprise a pairof gear members, and said drive member is a follower member that isdisposed between said output members and is axially movable along saidinput shaft into driving engagement with one of the other of said outputmembers.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising drag means in engagementwith said follower means to cause movement of said follower means alongsaid cam groove.

7. In control apparatus wherein a drive member is movable into drivingengagement with each of a plurality of rotatable output members foreffecting a plurality of output functions, the improvement comprising:

a rotatable input shaft having an axially extending cam groove disposedon the outer surface thereof,

said drive member being mounted on said input shaft for rotation andaxial movement relative thereto, and

a pin mounted on said drive member and being slidably disposed in saidcam groove,

whereby rotation of said input shaft in one direction causes said pin tomove along said cam groove in a first direction and effects movement ofsaid member into driving engagement with one of said output members.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said pin is mounted on the interiorsurface of said drive member.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said drive member has a bore thereinand said pin is slidably mounted in said bore, and wherein spring meansis disposed in said bore for urging said pin into engagement with saidcam groove.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said cam groove is so constructedthat rotation of said input shaft in the other direction causes said pinand said drive member to rotate with said input shaft.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said cam groove is formed with aplurality of recessed portions into which said pin drops to preventmovement of said pin along said cam groove in a direction opposite tosaid first direction each time said input shaft is rotated.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 where in said cam groove is formed in theouter surface of an annular cam member mounted on the outer surface ofsaid input shaft.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said drive member is annular andis rotatably and slidably mounted on the outer surface of said cammember.

14. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein a plurality of drive members aremounted on said input shaft for drivinglengagement with different out utmembers.

15. he apparatus of claim 7 w erem said drive member and said outputmembers are rotatable gear members.

16. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising drag means in engagementwith said follower means to cause movement of said follower means alongsaid cam groove.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 696,686 Dated October 10, 1972 Inventor(s) Michael F. Steele It is certifiedthat error appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Claim 5, line 6, cancel "of" (first occurrence) andsubstitute -or-.

Claim 7, line 15; after "said" insert -drive.

Signed and sealed this 20th day of February 1973.

(SEAL) "Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK I Attesting Offi r Commissionerof Patents FORM PC4050 (10459) USCOMM-DC 60376-P6Q [1.5. GOVERNMENTPRINTING OFFICE: IQQ 0-356-3 4,

1. In control apparatus wherein a drive member is movable into drivingengagement with each of a plurality of driven output members foreffecting a plurality of output functions, the improvement comprising: amovable input member having a cam groove disposed on the outer surfacethereof, and follower means mounted on said drive member and slidablyengaged in said cam groove, whereby predetermined movement of said inputmember causes said follower means to move along said cam groove and toeffect movement of said drive member into driving engagement with one ofsaid output members.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said inputmember is a rotatable shaft and said follower means is a pin.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 2 wherein said drive member is an annular member thatis mounted on said input shaft for rotation and axial movement relativethereto, and said pin is mounted on the interior annular surface of saiddrive member.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said output membersare gear members, and said drive member is a gear member that is adaptedto mesh with each of said output members.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3wherein said output members comprise a pair of gear members, and saiddrive member is a follower member that is disposed between said outputmembers and is axially movable along said input shaft into drivingengagement with one of the other of said output members.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 1 further comprising drag means in engagement withsaid follower means to cause movement of said follower means along saidcam groove.
 7. In control apparatus wherein a drive member is movableinto driving engagement with each of a plurality of rotatable outputmembers for effecting a plurality of output functions, the improvementcomprising: a rotatable input shaft having an axially extending camgroove disposed on the outer surface thereof, said drive member beingmounted on said input shaft for rotation and axial movement relativethereto, and a pin mounted on said drive member and being slidablydisposed in said cam groove, whereby rotation of said input shaft in onedirection causes said pin to move along said cam groove in a firstdirection and effects movement of said member into driving engagementwith one of said output members.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 whereinsaid pin is mounted on the interior surface of said drive member.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 7 wherein said drive member has a bore therein andsaid pin is slidably mounted in said bore, and wherein spring means isdisposed in said bore for urging said pin into engagement with said camgroove.
 10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said cam groove is soconstructed that rotation of said input shaft in the other directioncauses said pin and said drive member to rotate with said input shaft.11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said cam groove is formed with aplurality of recessed portions into which said pin drops to preventmovement of said pin along said cam groove in a direction opposite tosaid first direction each time said input shaft is rotated.
 12. Theapparatus of claim 7 where in said cam groove is formed in the outersurface of an annular cam member mounted on the outer surface of saidinput shaft.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said drive member isannular and is rotatably and slidably mounted on the outer surface ofsaid cam member.
 14. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein a plurality ofdrive members are mounted on said input shaft for driving engagementwith different output members.
 15. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein saiddrive member and said output members are rotatable gear members.
 16. Theapparatus of claIm 7 further comprising drag means in engagement withsaid follower means to cause movement of said follower means along saidcam groove.